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Afghan Commandos Detain Several Taliban Extremists

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2007  Afghanistan’s elite military force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation in the Zormat district of Paktya province yesterday, officials said.

The Afghan commandos targeted a Taliban bomb-making site during an early morning raid in Sheykhan village. The Taliban responded with sporadic gunfire in an attempt to defend their position. After the brief firefight, several Taliban suspects were taken into custody for further investigation.

“Once again, the commandos demonstrated their ability to rapidly respond to the concerns of local citizens and the directives of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,” said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, a Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman.

“Thank you for giving us peace and stability in the village, all we want is to live in peace,” a local villager said to military officials.

The commandos’ training and dedication to mission paid off, Belcher said, noting the Iraqi troops’ “aggressive attitude and enhanced skills allowed them to seize the initiative and work well with their partnered (Afghan police) throughout this operation.”

In other Afghanistan news, coalition troops detained five Taliban militants suspected of weapons smuggling during an operation conducted in Zabul province Nov. 23.

“Coalition forces are continuing to disrupt the Taliban’s supply of weapons in Afghanistan,” Belcher said. “We are eroding the Taliban’s resources and their ability to bring harm on the Afghan people.”